Injured kangaroo finds treatment in airport pharmacy

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Ella Rountree and Geoffrey Fuller captured the kangaroo, which had been reportedly hit by a vehicle.

By Gerry MullanyNew York Times
October 17, 2013

An injured kangaroo managed to make its way into Melbourne Airport in Australia on Wednesday, ending up, fittingly, in a pharmacy.

Astonished travelers watched as the kangaroo stumbled around the aisles, only to be captured by a dark-clad woman and a man, who can be seen on video casting a cloth over the ailing animal and then gently tackling it. It was placed under the care of a veterinarian.

The airport is ringed partly by bushland that is apparently frequented by kangaroos. This one chose to end up at a Qantas terminal, an apt destination since the airline’s symbol is the kangaroo and it is known among Australians as the “Flying Kangaroo.”

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the animal had been hit by a vehicle outside the terminal. Wildlife Victoria, an animal emergency response service, said it sent two trained rescue volunteers to help capture the animal, and that the kangaroo, nicknamed Cyrus after “one of the helpers at the scene,” was tranquilized before being turned over to the veterinarian.

Cyrus was later recorded resting comfortably at a wildlife shelter.

Naturally, the episode was fodder for social media. An Australian comedian, Julia Morris, who happened to be at the airport when the kangaroo came by, was reduced to clever hashtags to try to top the reality of the situation.

“Ok, so I’m at Melbourne airport & a KANGAROO has just jumped into the chemist,’’ she wrote on Twitter, adding, “#notajoke #soundslikeajoke #mustneedaprescriptionfilled.”